A$# 029 Blue Rodeo | The Days In Between

Their first new studio album in three years, Blue Rodeo's 2000 release, The Days In Between, came after Greg Keelor and Jim Cuddy had each released a solo album - and the group's superb double live effort, Just Like A Vacation.

Their previous studio album, 1997's Tremolo, had been created sort of on the fly, which didn't undermine the quality. (Indeed, Tremolo is one of my very favourite Blue Rodeo discs. And so is TDIB.) But for TDIB, the guys took a different approach.

First, there was the choice of studio - Kingsway Studio in New Orleans, owned by Daniel Lanois, and the venue where many fine works by the likes of Peter Gabriel, U2 and Emmylou Harris had been committed to tape.

And the co-producer - they worked with Trina Shoemaker, who had twirled the knobs as engineer on many of Lanois's productions.

Plus the approach to the record, as this quote from the album notes on the group's web site explains:

(TDIB) is quite simply the group's most finely textured work yet. "We worked harder on this album than any in a long time," said Cuddy. "We really wanted to make a record that was a bit of statement for us." There is an undeniable writing chemistry between Jim Cuddy and co-frontman Greg Keelor, but it's also one that becomes alchemic and strained often, like any creative coupling that cares deeply about a singular end result. The Days In Between showcases their talents with an astounding depth and beauty seen in brilliant flashes on previous releases.

One can hear the result in the atmospheric songs presented. Cinema Song, the opener, almost drips with moodiness. (What does *that* mean? Listen to the song, then you'll know.)

Then there are two pair of songs in which each play off the other - a slower, sort-of folkie number by Greg and then a stimulating rocker by Jim (The Seeker + Begging You To Let Me In; Bitter Fruit + Somebody Waits). Listen for Sarah Harmer's mesmerizing backing vocals on Bitter Fruit.

Andrea is sort of a continuation in the vein of earlier songs Greg has done for women he's met (eg Cynthia and Girl In Green) in various states of altered consciousness.

Sad Nights is Jim the romantic at his most poignant, sadder than House Of Dreams or Bad Timing, and just as moving.

Next up, Greg gets moody with This Road, an exploration of endless travels and friends whom he might not see again.

Then Greg rocks things up with the title track, The Days In Between. Even though it's about a down period, the tempo and performance of the songs suggest a latent optimism, despite the lyrics:

So I took a ride down to the end of the line
For no good reason
Just looking for a place to hide
So burnt out I can’t explain
Just stumbling around from day to day
These are the days in between

And I was happy for a while
But then I started chasing your stone cold heart
Yeah I was happy for awhile
But then everything started falling apart

Things are looking brighter indeed with Jim on Always Gettng Better. However, Greg then sings about Rage, and Jim closes the album with thoughts of the plight of the wrongly convicted Stephen Truscott. [Yes, we know that, judges of the Ontario Court of Appeal. Do the right thing!]

As the web site notes conclude, TDIB is a finely wrought work by one of Canada's best groups:

That attention to detail and focus on quality rippled through the band, Cuddy says, with drummer Milchem acting as the band's chief whip. Milchem leaned on the songwriting tandem, pushing the alliance beyond established parameters. "Glenn was very critical of this record. Greg would show up with these dark, sad songs and Glenn was like 'No! Write something upbeat!" That happened a few times, until finally Keelor arrived with the song "The Days In Between." All that cajoling had paid off, it seems. "It was the last song recorded, and it summed up the whole mood of the album," says Cuddy.

Blue Rodeo ended up recording the album basically as a four-piece with Keelor, Cuddy, Donovan, and Milchem. Keyboardist Gray and steel player Deschamps then wove in some atmospherics. Deschamps left the band soon after the album was recorded and was replaced by multi-instrumentalist Bob Egan who brings with him some impressive credentials, having played with roots rockers Wilco , Billy Bragg and The Tragically Hip. Even on early tour dates for The Days In Between, Egan fit like a glove.

Adorning the front cover of The Days In Between is a dark photograph of a long, lonely road, with an old VW Beetle approaching from the distance and heading into nowhere in particular. For this band, there is no dead-end in sight.

Track listing:

1. Cinema Song
2. The Seeker
3. Begging You To Let Me In
4. Bitter Fruit
5. Somebody Waits
6. Andrea
7. Sad Nights
8. This Road
9. The Days Iin Between
10. Always Getting Better
11. Rage
12. Truscott